folha
/ˈfo.ʎɐ/feminine
The English word leaf is translated to Portuguese as folha.
folha refers to a part of a plant. It is also used to refer to a sheet of paper, such as in the phrase folha de papel (sheet of paper). In a business context, it is used in the term folha de pagamento to mean payroll.
Meaning: part of a plant (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of folha is folhas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈfo.ʎɐ/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, folha can refer to a 'blade' of a tool or a knife, referring to the flat, thin part of the metal.
- When Portuguese speakers talk about 'turning over a new leaf' in the sense of a fresh start, they do not use folha. Instead, they use the phrase virar a página, meaning 'to turn the page'.
- The Portuguese folha comes from the Late Latin folia, which was actually a plural form of folium.
Examples in context
- A folha se decompôs.The leaf decomposed.This example shows the use of folha in a sentence about decomposition.Tatoeba #7833732 by piterkeo, translation #5991357 by mailohilohi
- A folha e a árvore estão caindo.The leaf and the tree are falling.This example shows the use of folha in a sentence about a leaf and a tree falling.Tatoeba #2499172 by MarlonX19, translation #1148293 by cntrational
- Eu estava tremendo como uma folha.I was shaking like a leaf.This example shows the use of folha in an idiom about shaking.Tatoeba #5217472 by ianna, translation #5216744 by CK
- Eu vi uma linda folha de árvore caindo no outono.I saw a beautiful leaf falling in autumn.
- As folhas no parque estão mudando de cor nesta estação.The leaves in the park are changing colors this season.
- Olha só essa folhinha! Ela é tão delicada.Look at this cute little leaf! It's so delicate.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are walking through a park.
- RodrigoOlhe esta folha colorida, Mariana!Look at this colorful leaf, Mariana!
- MarianaÉ linda, Rodrigo.It is beautiful, Rodrigo.
- RodrigoEla caiu da árvore agora.It fell from the tree just now.
- MarianaO outono chegou cedo.Autumn arrived early.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leaf” translations and entries folha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries folha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
